WWW.LIVELAW.IN f.lqfiM ~ NIRVACHAN SADAN ..~ ,~··.... "11«'f f.ictf.:l't 311<1(>1 31WP ~. ~ ~ -110 001 ~ ~ Election Commission of India ASHOKA ROAD, NEW DELHI -110 001 ORDER No. 437/MP-HP/2019/(Complaints) Dated: or' May, 2019 Whereas, the Commission has announced the schedule for holding the General Election to the House of the People, 2019 vide Press Note No. ECI/PN/2019, dated I 0.03.2019 and the provisions of Model Code of Conduct for political parties and candidates have come into force from that very date; and Whereas, Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur made certain statement against late Sh. Hemant Karkare, IPS, Maharastra in violation of the provisions of Model Code of Conduct and relevant section of the Representation of the People Act, 1951 while addressing media at a press conference in Bhopal on 18.04.2019; and Whereas, Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur apologized for the statement made against late Sh. Hemant Karkare and withdrew her aforesaid statement before news channels telecasted on 19.04.2019; and Whereas, Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur again made certain other statement regarding demolition of Babri Masjid in an interview to a private television channel in Bhopal on 20.04.2019, in violation of the provisions of Model Code of Conduct and relevant section of the Representation of the People Act, 19 51; and Whereas, the District Election Officer, Bhopal issued a notice dated 20.04.2019 asking her to furnish explanation; and Whereas, Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur furnished her explanation on 21.04.2019, and Whereas, in her aforesaid reply, with regard to the statement made on late Shri Hemant Karkare, she has submitted as follows:- ""i'M 3l1R '3~611G'1 ~ ~ ~ ~ mKc1 cfi 6fR ~ 3!YI-JI.-Jvi.-Jch ~ ~ cmft. ~ cfcffic<l cITT ~ -q'fcffi cfi 3TTmx "Y"x 31~ ~ ~ ~ I "tp cfcffic<l cnT ~ ~ 31~ ~ ~ I "i'M 3l1R '3~611G.-J ~ ~ ~ c'1f4>1c11.-J ~ ~ cfi ~ "Y"x ~ "vlT lllci.-JI~ cft ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ t 3TR ~ ~ ~ t ft), ~ ~ "viT tlc':'11 ~ ~ ~ ~ cfi "ffl,al ~ I ~ °6!<lR cITT ffim ~ '1 ch I~ I fl-l ch ~!Rl 1f ~ fc),m <Tm t ~ ~ ffl ~ qi"T ~ ~ ~ ~ cITT clffif ~ 6 t" and Tel: 011-23052205-18, Fax: 011- 23052223-25, Website: www.eci.nic.in . - - WWW.LIVELAW.IN -2- Whereas, even though Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur has apologized on her statement made about late Shri Hemant Karkare, the Commission has found it unwarranted; and Whereas, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur in her reply dated 21.04.2019 regarding her statement on demolition of Babri Masjid has averred as follows:- "*t ~ ~. tf4. ~. ~ ~ * 1lUf ~ m ~ ~3n' ¢1" 3ITITTf m 31~ -atf ~ * '3ct~~ii ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 'R) ~ ~ ffi ~ ~ fctl" m ¢1" WcRT cnffiT t tl ~ ~ ~: ~ ~ Ptx1'1lll: * ~ tR cITT4 ffi ~ { I" and Whereas, the District Election Officer, Bhopal did not find the explanation furnished by Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur satisfactory and found that she violated provisions of Model Code of Conduct by making the statement regarding demolition of Babri Masjid; and Whereas, an FIR has been lodged against her on 22.04.2019 at Bhopal under Section 188 of JPC, 1860; and Whereas, the Commission has carefully gone through the contents and avennents made in the aforesaid reply of Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur and found it provocative and also on the religious lines that have the propensity of spreading hatred among various communities which is not confined to the constituency only where the statement is made, but also to the other parts as well due to fast dissemination of information in this digital age; and Whereas, the Commission based on the material facts and evidences, is convinced that Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur in her impugned speech has appealed to secure votes on religious lines that tantamount to violation of provisions of para 3 of part I 'General Conduct' of "Model Code of Conduct, for the guidance of Political Parties and Candidates" which specify that:- (3) There shall be no appeal to caste or communal feelings for securing votes. Mosques, Churches, Temples or other places of worship shall not be used as forum for election propaganda. WWW.LIVELAW.IN -3- Now, therefore, The Commission, without prejudice to any Order/Notice issued in the matter relating to MCC violations to her, hereby, strongly condemns the impugned statements made by her in both the above cases and warns Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur not to repeat such misconduct in future. The Commission further, under Article 324 of the Constitution of India and all other powers enabling in this behalf, bars her from holding any public meetings, public processions, public rallies, road shows and interviews, public utterances in media (electronic, print, social media) etc. in connection with ongoing elections for 72 hours commencing from 06:00 AM on 02nd May, 2019. eBy ord er, (S. B. JOSHI) SECRETARY To, Sadhavi Pragya Singh Thakur, Contesting Candidate, Bharatiya Janata Party 19 - Bhopal Parliamentary Constituency, Rivera Town, Bhopal. (Through Chief Electoral Officer, Madhya Pradesh) .